Not for sale

Tamil Nadu’s deceased donor organ retrieval programme is a good example of a transparent, State-led initiative that can demonstrably curb trade in human organs. It is not by accident that the programme has achieved a donation rate for kidneys, livers, hearts and lungs that is many times higher than the national average; last year, nearly half of all donations from dead donors in India were in Tamil Nadu. A combination of socially-minded medical professionals, supportive governments and high levels of openness has encouraged several families to altruistically give away the organs of their kin who suffer brain stem death, mostly in road traffic accidents. The Tamil Nadu model, recently featured by BMJ (the British Medical Journal) as a replicable framework for other States, has many aspects that merit close attention. What stands out in its design is the requirement that all hospitals doing transplant surgeries register with a State authority, offer counselling to the kin of potential donors, submit records of transplants and declare their charges. The online publication of waiting lists, the hospitals involved and guidelines for allocation of organs has strengthened public confidence in the system. Notably, many recipients are poor.

It is no secret that the evolution of such a forward-looking measure in Tamil Nadu is the response to an unedifying past — one that made the State notorious for trade in kidneys procured by middlemen from living donors, mostly the poor. Commerce in organs continues in many other parts of the country, exploiting a provision in the Transplantation of Human Organs Act that allows living unrelated people to give, for reasons of attachment to or affection for the recipient. This must be countered forcefully by promoting the cadaver donation model. Even Tamil Nadu can do a lot more, by devoting attention to trauma units in district hospitals, where cadavers can be maintained for organ donation, and doctors trained to identify brain stem death and perform transplants. Commendably, the expertise acquired thus far by the State is being widely shared with health systems across the country, and there can be no excuse for others not to institute similar programmes. It is, of course, vital to remember that the major supply of cadaveric organs comes from the shocking number of road accidents that kill over 134,000 people a year. On the other hand, organ demand is also inexorably rising due to weak preventive measures and treatment access for diabetes and hypertension. Free public provision of dialysis, which is currently unaffordable in the private sector to most patients, can help many with end-stage kidney disease. Curbing organ commerce needs a national initiative.

A good initiation from the TN,and should be followed by whole country then it will attain it's purpose.

from:
Gagan

Posted on: Apr 17, 2013 at 19:45 IST

Excellent editorial from THE HINDU highlighting Tamilnadu's model of promoting cadaver organ donation model.The highly notorious state of TN in indulging in illegal trade of organs has now made an U turn in a short span and now standing as a model for other states in country is really heartening.Also,the British Medical Journal featuring the strcutured way of TN and recommending that the model is fit to be replicated all over the country brings cheers. But majority of organ donation comes only from those who die in road accidents merits attention. The news of a college student who succumbed to head injuries in TN and whose parents with a big heart donated his son's heart, lungs and other vital organs to the needy caught up the news all over the state and the country.A recent tamil movie covers the incident and is highlighting the public the need for organ donation.A national level awareness campaign on 'organ donation' will deifinitely have the required impact in promoting this concept

from:
BASKARAN R V

Posted on: Apr 17, 2013 at 14:02 IST

Good coverage on human organs not for sale. However the chain of survival with Basic life support outside and far away from the specialized hospital is still very weak.Only recently Supreme court had to intervene and forcefully announce that any person with any accident needs to be taken to the nearest hospital.Hospital must admit them and give first aid without any police Report.Do the hospital really follow it.